Table Of ContentNATURE
UNCOVERED
For the children of Science only,
and not for ignorant Sophists
BY
THE UNKNOWN KNIGHT
Inner Garden Press
Translated by Tristan Bruemmer for Inner Garden Press
Published by Inner Garden Press
2015, Utrecht, the Netherlands
ISBN: 978-94-6163-013-1 (E-book)
ISBN: 978-94-6163-014-8 (Hardback)
Copyright © Inner Garden Press
All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or
otherwise, without the prior permission of Inner
Garden Press.
A catalogue record for this book is available from
the National Library, The Netherlands.
Inner Garden Foundation
The Inner Garden Foundation carries out applied
and theoretical research into the Art of Alchemy
and the pursuit of the Great Work, and offers
classes to those drawn to the Art. For more
information refer to:
www.innergarden.org
PREFACE
Students of alchemy are always in search for that one definitive tome that
explains thoroughly and clearly the science of our Art and the path to the
Philosophers' Stone. Unfortunately the quest for that one ultimate book is
bound to remain unrewarded because treatises on alchemy are generally
written in a veiled manner. Its treasures are often hidden behind riddles and
show a deliberately changed order of operations and deliberate omissions of
essential operations.
This manner of writing has been passed down through the ages as the
customary form of secrecy. It is part of an elegant ethical code which comes
with the trade and its philosophy. It ensures understanding of alchemy is a
matter of gradual personal revelation rather than the mere copying of
recipes. To study one book or one author, therefore, is unlikely to reveal all
pieces of the puzzle, although certainly much can be gained from a
meticulous study of the writings of one recognised master.
Still, the deliberate hiatuses or impenetrable parts of writings by such a
recognized author may have to be augmented by the works of other authors.
Hence, students of alchemy are continuously on the lookout for that
unknown precious manuscript that might reveal a specific part of the work
not yet understood and shed new light on their continuing endeavour in the
work.
In order to piece back the puzzle, one should understand that there is not
just one but several known paths to the Stone, several modes of operations
that lead to the same result but which use different starting materials,
different fires and different waters. Different authors wrote about different
paths, and some authors intermittently wrote about two or more different
paths in the same treaty, without clarification to the reader that two different
modes of operation are described, and that these are neither chronological
nor comprehensive. However, before condemning these authors for
misleading the reader one should realise these different paths all lead to the
same result, with processes very similar and universal constituents. Thus
the paint a picture of different facets of the same thing, of what in essence is
only one path.
Even so, there are many beginnings to this Opus Major and most students
of alchemy find themselves stuck at the beginning of the work. Where does
one start? What is the Prima Materia? Should one choose the Dry Way, the
Wet Way, the Way of the Priest or the Way of Mary the Jew? Any student
serious about alchemy would do well to develop an understanding of each
of this paths in order to better recognise which piece belongs to which part
of the puzzle. In addition, students should familiarise themselves with the
underlying principles that form the foundation of our operations and the
ways of nature. This is the area where the present book shines.
This rare French work by an anonymous knight explains in philosophical
terms the mechanisms of the Great Work in general. More specifically, it
describes the operations of the Wet Path to the Stone and in this case a path
that is known as the Way of the Rich. The first chapter of the book is
difficult to read and may in part have been intended to provide the book
with a religious raison d'être for those who might otherwise condemn the
book as heresy. Soon, however, the pace picks up and the book becomes
more practical and charitable to the student of alchemy. For example, the
book makes a clear and explicate distinction between the medicinal and
transmutational Stone and contains a number of unique jewels and
clarifications not encountered elsewhere. Particularly profound is the
chapter on poetic chemistry which clearly shows the hand of the master.
This chapter gives an enlightening perspective on the interpretation of the
Greek legends as parables of alchemical operations and principles. Worth
mentioning as well is the more detailed description of the phrase from the
Emerald Tablet "the wind carries it in its belly", or the characteristics of the
Stone in that "its mere fragrance is enough to stop the souls of the dying in
their journey of departure." Throughout the book, it presents its wisdom as
a form of energy medicine avant la lettre.
At its time of appearance in 1669, this book was immediately recognised
for its value. Minister Paulmy d'Argenson was assigned to uncover the true
name of this unknown knight. Yet however wide and far reaching the
minister's intelligence organisation was, the nameless master remained
invisible. Hence we are left with many questions, not in the last place of, for
example, the relevance of the designation of "Unknown Knight". Why was
the book not simply published anonymously, without the allusion of the
author being a knight? Was this merely a figure of speech, at a time when
warriors, gladiators and knights often took the place of the alchemist in bas
reliefs and engravings that depicted the toilsome battle of alchemists to slay
dragons and their venture into dangerous and unknown territory?
Back then, endeavours in alchemy were reserved for those of the upper
stratum of society, simply because of the extensive cost and time involved.
Only those well to do had the money to purchase and peruse expensive
books, buy laboratory equipment and have the available non-work time to
pursue the noble arts. In fact, only royalty and noblemen had the funds to
pursue the work to some degree of success and therefore alchemy was also
called the "Royal Art."
It follows that in addition to kings and noblemen with an interest for
alchemy, there were also those who had received the accolade as knight. Yet
one should understand that there were relatively few knights who pursued
alchemy and there were many alchemists that were not knights. At the same
time, there exists a more than coincidental link between knighthood and
alchemy. A select group of Templar knights, for example, had a keen
interest in the culture, science and medicine they encountered in the East.
Some of these Templars are said to have received, from Saladin himself
even, specific teachings on the practice of alchemy. Knowledge that was
subsequently carried to France and that continued to be transmitted even
after the demise of the Templar Order. Much of this is shrouded in legends
and mystery but it is most certain that a small group of initiates, either
working individually or within the egregore of secret brotherhoods,
continued to transmit this ageless wisdom. Was the ring of transmuted gold
that the alchemist Pierre Dujols de Valois had received from the allusive
master Fulcanelli at the beginning of the 20th century not one that contained
an engraving of Baphomet? There are few depictions that could more
specifically link to the Templars than this unique emblem. At the same time,
there is no depiction and no associated number that more specifically
contains within itself the incredible secret key to the apex of our art, neither
sinister nor dark, that is the Philosopher's Stone. Being bound by oath,
nothing can be revealed about this great secret. What I can say, however, is
that this book sheds light on the more obvious alchemical relevance of this
hermaphroditic and mercurial symbol and offers an explanation of the
alchemical relevance of its constituents, like for example its two golden
horns.
Having said this, it must be noted that the links of the alchemical tradition
with the Templars or knighthood in general can be considered fairly recent
infusions in an ancient tradition. One must consider that the art of alchemy
has been practised for thousands of years. A number of paths to the Stone
have been passed down since time immemorial. This ancient knowledge
found its way through different continents and eras to our present day. The
Egyptians were heir to an ancient Atlantean knowledge and there was
another stream of knowledge from Lemuria that was carried to the west
with the fall of Indian culture many millennia ago.
Parallel to this trace of knowledge via Egypt there has also been a number
of initiates in the Occident that trace their knowledge back as far as nine
millennia ago. At its roots lays an indigenous knowledge. The keepers of
this knowledge have been called Druids, Sorcerers, Witches, Shamans.
They were found in western parts of Europe, and their knowledge in part
found an abode in the Druidic and Celtic philosophy in Galicia, Wales and
the west of France. In Galicia they were identified as the 'oestrimnio'. In the
previous two millennia their knowledge gradually merged with the
Egyptian knowledge that was carried in by the Arabs and, as mentioned, a
small group of Templars. The ancient source of this knowledge was
recognised to be similar if not the same. In light of this, one could say that
knighthood should be seen as something complementary to the alchemical
tradition and its charitable aims and noble code of ethics, rather than a sine
qua non in its transmission.
The well-know 20th century veteran of alchemy Eugène Canseliet retrieved
the present book from the library of his elusive master, Fucanelli, and
established its author must most certainly have been an Adept. The
designation of Adept according to its traditional definition within the
alchemical circle is a most rare one, since it is reserved for those who have
successfully accomplished the Great Work and the preparation of the
Philosophers' Stone. Therefore these are weighty words about the author of
this book.
Canseliet states that this work, though modest in size, offers most
magnificent splendour and riches. He records that in addition to his master's
version of the book, there exists a second copy of the book by the Unknown
Knight. It is found in the Arsenal library in Paris, under Nr. 3026, a volume
that also includes the work of David de Planis, physician of Louis XIII,
with the title "L'Ecolle transmutatione des Philosophes." At the back of that
version is included an unnumbered flyleaf which is likely from the hand of
d'Atoine-René Voyer, marquis de Paulmy d'Argenson. It reads as follows:
"This manuscript is composed of two rare treatises
on alchemy, both in printed form. I have the 2nd
one as part of the works of Planis de Campy; refer
to my note on that author at the front of that work.
As far as the second treatise is concerned, I do not
have it. The abby Lenget Du Fresnoy remarked it
is extremely rare. I have not been able to discover
anything regarding the real name of this unknown
knight."
So our unknown knight escaped the investigations of the minister of
internal affairs Voyer d'Argenson. Even though the organisation and
intelligence network of the minister was known to be wide and far reaching,
the unknown knight had disappeared after the publication of his book and
has remained invisible until this very day. Fortunately, the writings of the
charitable knight remain and may enlighten those who seek its words
through the ages.
